The widow of a man who died after waiting six hours for an ambulance after his meningitis was diagnosed as ‘flu-like symptoms’ by a paramedic, has won an out-of-court settlement over his death.

Lisa Armitage said she hoped the NHS Trust would learn lessons from the death of her husband, Tutu, who died two days after she first called an ambulance for him.

Tutu, whose full name was Mthuthuzeli Mpongwana, died in the BRI when his wife Lisa took the heart-wrenching decision to switch off his life-support machine following the advice of doctors.

The 38-year-old from Bedminster had suffered a massive stroke shortly after arriving at hospital back in 2015. A year later, an inquest into his death concluded it was ‘contributed to by failure to take appropriate action in the face of an obvious need’.

“To see my husband lying helplessly in a hospital bed as his life slipped away before me is something I will never forget,” said Lisa, 30.

“The decision to turn off Tutu’s life-support will live with me forever.

Read More

“The pain and loss our family continues to suffer remains as strong as ever three years on. This has been made worse by having to fight the ambulance service for answers,” she added.

“Although it is too late for my family I just hope that the ambulance service learns lessons from Tutu’s death.

(Image: SWNS +44 (0)1179066550)

“It’s also vital that other families who suspect someone may have meningitis don’t take no for an answer and seek urgent medical attention. It is well known that the faster you act the more likely treatment will be successful,” she added.

Tutu was at home in Bedminster on January 5, 2015, when he complained to Lisa he had a headache and was unable to look at his phone because it was too bright.

Read More

Tutu was taken straight to the resuscitation room as his eyes were bulging and he had lost control of his arms and hands. He then suffered a stroke and his brain began to swell. He was put on life support but could not be saved.

He died on January 7, 2015.

Following the inquest into his death at Avon Coroner’s Court, HM Coroner Maria Voisin recorded a narrative conclusion and said: “Mr Mpongwana died from natural causes contributed to by failure to take appropriate action in the face of an obvious need that failure arose at around 1:50am when a P1 (Priority One) back up should have requested and benzopenicillin should have been administered’.

(Image: SWNS +44 (0)1179066550)

The South Western Ambulance Trust denied liability for the father-of-three’s death, but has now agreed an out-of-court settlement with Tutu’s family, which will help secure the future of his children.

The settlement has been approved by the county court in Bristol.

“The last three years have been incredibly difficult for Lisa and her family as they attempted to come to terms with Tutu’s death,” said Julie Lewis, the family’s lawyer.

Read More

“It has also always been our opinion that there was a clear failure by the Ambulance Service to administer antibiotics that would start to treat Tutu’s meningitis and by a paramedic to call for back-up.

“Lisa had always hoped that following the inquest, which was also critical of Tutu’s care, the Ambulance Service would accept liability for his death,” she added.

“We are pleased that the trust has now agreed to an out of court settlement, allowing Lisa and her family to try and focus on the future the best they can,” she said.